English, baby!

Timbaland

Date: Jan 11 2010

Themes: Music

Grammar: Plural vs. Possessive "S"

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Intro

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hit
eclectic

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Some people just seem to know a good thing when they see it. The musician and producer Timbaland is a good example. He has a history of spotting new talent and creating great collaborations. Whether producing songs or laying down backup tracks, he has worked with dozens of famous musicians, including Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent, and Beck.

Now Timbaland has a new album out. As usual, a lot of other artists show up in his songs. And it’s a surprisingly eclectic group, including Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, and Nelly Furtado. Find out what Dale and Beren think about Shock Value II.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Dale

Beren

Dale: Baby girl…That’s Timbaland, right?

Beren: That is. That’s the beat that made him famous. And the sample of the crying baby. And Aaliyah. Aaliyah and Missy Elliott and Timbaland, they were unstoppable in the…is that mid to late nineties?

Dale: It’s somewhere around there. And the guy is now coming out with his second studio album called Shock Value II.

Beren: I didn’t know there was a Shock Value I.

Dale: And I agree. Maybe the II means it’s always with somebody else, ‘cause I don’t remember hearing him just go solo.

Beren: No. I guess the one time I have heard him do anything other than just be behind the drum machine or whatever it is he does is…wasn’t he on the Justin Timberlake, the big hit, “Sexy Back”?

Dale: See that, again, he’s with another person. He’s with Rihanna and Mariah Carey, Chris Cornell.

Beren: Chris Cornell?

Dale: I don’t even understand it, if this guy is just by himself…

Beren: He has a good ear.

Dale: He knows how to ride on somebody’s coattails.

Beren: And make a hit.

Dale: Yeah, and make a hit. I’ll be happy with that.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Timbaland first became famous in the late 1990s when he worked with artists like Missy Elliott and Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash in 2001. Dale and Beren like some of the songs he has made with other musicians, but they do not know much about his own music.

Beren thinks Timbaland must be good at finding and working with talented people. But Dale isn’t sure Timbaland would be good on his own. Maybe he has become successful by riding other people’s coattails.

Do you think Timbaland is a talented musician? Do you know anyone who rides other people’s coattails?

Comments

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Elfseeker

China

I'm sorry to say that I didn't know this person a bit.I just know about Mariah Carey and Rihanna.But I guess maybe he is a talent who was be ignored,haha.

Grusha

Russian Federation

i don't think Timbaland 's a talented musician…Is he good oProducer – yes, heis.

The SuFFeRiNG

Azerbaijan

Timbaland is a great musician. But I prefer others.

Yomismo

Germany

Im not interested at all in that kind of commercial music. Saturnus,Empylver and Forest of Shadows, that's music!!!

dustbin

China

Timbaland, I 'm sorry ,I don't know anything about him.But i like rock,that's all.

Ahn Soo-hyun

South Korea

I don't know Timbaland. Anyway, Have a happy day, English baby and Brian!!!

Zambuka

United States

This guy can make anybody fame . . .Nelly Furtado was famous , but when she collaborated with Timbaland she was at the hop of the hit lists ! And why not make such kind of music , when you can be producer and give the new singers change to get popular . . .One republic became known just because of him . . . I respect his work !

Whitney S

Colombia

I've always been his big fan. I always say it: Everything he touches turns into gold, there's no doubt about it! His productions with Missy Elliot, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Coldplay, etc….Are just OUT OF THID WORLD. Any artist who wants to be popular and successful should work with him because the rythm, the beat and the style he gives to the songs is the best.

I'LL ALWAYS BE YOUR BIGGEST FAN, TIMBALAND, FOREVER AND EVER!!!!!!

PumpkinSoup

Thailand

I know this guy Timbaland from the that hit song, Apologize and it's funny how he's just singing the word eh e eh but the song's title is Apologize, Timberland freaturing One Republic while it's the other way round. I don't know much about him so but yeah it's wierd how he gets famous without his solo about. Definately not my kind of talented musicians.

dearpesar

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i don't prefer those who remix or use old music in a new performance. i think every music just belongs to the first artist and has a special soul that never can be feel in remix. if they are real artist the should design new not using others work